Argentine Slang Phrases

While living in Buenos Aires, you are going to hear a whole lot of Spanish that you never learned in your Spanish class and some that you can’t find in the dictionary. Argentine Spanish, or rather Rioplatenese Spanish is loaded with Slang that will take you years to understand. This guide should make it a little bit easier for you.

The translations below are not literal; rather they are translated to their English equivalent in terms of significance. If you are interested in the literal translations, you could probably pop these phrases in a translator, or you might be able to translate them on your own! Enjoy!

“no le llega auga al tanque” = he’s not there

“a las chapas” = to go really fast

“arrastar el ala” = to make a romantic advance on someone

“lo atamos con alambre” = to jerry-rig it, MacGyver-it

“bajá un cambio!” = Chill Out! Relax!

“cara rota” = a shameless person
“caer como peludo de regalo” = a way to say a unwanted guest shows up unexpectedly

“calavera no chilla” = you get what you deserve

“calienta la pava pero no ceba los mates” = he or she is a tease
“cerrado como culo de muñeca” = closed like a doll’s ass

“faltan cinco pa’l peso” = to come up short
“echar panza” = to let go of yourself, to settle down and get fat
“comerse un huesito” = to sleep with a hot babe
“echar un polvo” = to fuck
“no dejar titere con cabeza” = to take no prisoners

“estar en el horno” = to be stressed out or in a bad situation
“dejate de joder” = get out of town! You gotta be joking!
“echar un cloro” = take a piss
“más loco que una cabra con pollitos” = crazier than a goat with chicks

“le faltan algunos jugadores” = he is out of his mind, he is dumb
“medio pelo” = mediocre
“hacer gancho” = to play matchmaker, to set to lover’s up

Articles by Gringo In BsAs on BBC Travel

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